Bridle-bit and horse-controlling device.



'"No. 739,163. 1 PATENTED sE T.15,19os. Y J'. o. FOWLER, JR,

- BRIDLE BIT AND HORSE GONTROLLINGDEVIGE.

- APPLICATION rninn Jun 9. 1902.

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UNITED STATES Patented September 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN 0. FOWLER, JE.,'OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BRlDLE-BIT AND HORSE-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,163, dated September 15, 1903. Application filed June 9,1902. Serial No. 110,737. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN O. FOWLER, J r., a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Bridle-Bit and Horse- Oontrolling Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to attachments for bridle-bits, and in particular to bits provided with appliances to control unruly, restless, or vicious horses, and has for its object the provision of a bit of the kind set forth simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, readily adjustable, and which operates efficiently in practical use.

To attain the desired end, this my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operation of parts herein set forth.

In order to enable my invention to be fully understood, I will proceed to explain the same by reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a bridle-bit constructed according to my invention. Figs. 1 and 1 are views in detail of the jaw-pieces of the same in operation. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another bit embodying my invention, and Figs. 2 and 2 are views in detail of the jaw-pieces of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the views.

I have found it desirable to make an appliance or attachment applicable either to a bridoon-bit, port-mouthed bit, or a snaffle or other jointed bit by means of which the projecting portions of the jaw-pieces of the same may be arranged to come squarely into contact with the jaw of an unruly or fractious horse at will, which appliance is readily adjustable and also may be made so as to be detachable from the bit without loosening the reins, if desired, and I have therefore constructed according to my invention an organization of the class described embodying the preferred construction of parts and their mutual relationship, combination, arrangement, and organization in a composite body or structure, as hereinafter described.

Referring particularly to the drawings, A

denotes a snaffle or joint bit of any ordinary or suitable construction of a length of about five and one-half inches and which may be provided with rings B for reins in the usual manner. In my nose-band, as shown in Figs. 1, 1, and 1", O is my nose-band body, preferably constructed of spring metal and provided with preferably detachable end Orjaw pieces D d, slidable upon the bit sections and consisting, preferably, of one or more rigid metal loopsor links of any desired contour and formed ordinarilyintegral and provided with inwardly-extending parts or projections fand having, preferably,'parallel outer projecting ends (1, provided, if desired, with means, as'orifices, constructed and arranged to register with perforations or openings (1 in the ends of the nose-band, the parts being ordinarily rigidly attached or else held together by wires E engaging said holes, where by the same may be adjustably secured to the nose-band body 0, the length of the entire'nose-band being about thirteen and onehalf inches.

The nose-band may be secured to and detached at will from the joint-bit A without loosening the reins in cases Where this construction is desired, as by disengaging the parts by the removalof the wires E, which serve to hold the members together, as stated, after which the end or jaw pieces may be readily slipped onor off the said joint-bit. It will be observed that both the nose-band proper and also the part E, which is rigidly attached to and lies over the band at the points where the nose-band and jaw-pieces are connected together, are constructed of resilient, flexible, or yielding material, as metal, in order to allow the inner ends of the noseband to assume the different positions required for its proper action.

The body of the nose-band C may be provided with an orifice C for purposes of attaching the same to a nose-strap, if desired,

although no overdraw or other check is re- IOO ends of d of the jaw-pieces may be provided with perforations (1 and the same may be Socured by wires E passing through orifices d to the ends of the resilient body of the noseband.

It is manifest that various omissions of some particulars could be made without materially affecting the essential features of my invention or the operation of the remaining parts, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the specific structural details of the organization herein set forth.

In operation the nose-band is ordinarily not felt by the horse at all, in consequence of which the horse may be driven with a light hand and controlled by the simple guidance of the finger and thumb. \Vhen correction or coercion, however, is necessary, a more severe strain may be applied to the reins, whereupon the very great power of the bridle will be developed in the following manner: The nose-band engages the bit on the inner sides of the rein-rings of the bit, the ends of the jaw pieces thereof normally lying against the said rings and the projections f being forward of the said rings and standing away from the sides of the jaw of the animal. The said offsets or projections], however, may be used for pressing against the nerves of the horse (into the gum just over the teeth) at the critical moment when the horse attempts to run away, which projections are operated by the simple act of pulling hard on the reins, the central portion of the noseband resting on the nose of the animal and the ends of the jaw-pieces sliding along on the bit as the ends of the latter are moved rearwardly, whereby the inner ends of the jaw-pieces are forced toward the center or joint of the bit and the projectionsfare carried inwardly. Thus in the event of the horse running away the rein-rings, being moved in a rearward direction, force the inner ends of the jaw-pieces to come toward each other, thus pressing the inwardly-extending projections f against the nerves of the cheek and gum of the horse, and the pain occasioned thereby causes the animal to become subject to the control of the driver. As soon as the horse becomes more docile and is manageable upon simply lessening the strain on the reins again the resilience of the metal nose-band, which tends to spread it out, causes the inner ends of the jaw-pieces to approach and lie against the rein-rings in their original normal positions, which action of itself serves to remove the pressure from the gum of the horse.

As the resilience of the nose-band tends to spread it out and as the inner ends (1 of the jaw-pieces, slid-able on the bit -sections, are prevented from moving outwardly by the rings B of the relatively short bit and serve to hold the nose-band from spreading out, the said jaw-pieces will extend laterally outward from thebit and the projectionsfwill normallylie forward of the bit-rings B. In

the structure shown in Fig. 2 on account of the joint formed between the loop or link and the part of the jaw-piece connected with the offsets f the outer ends (1 of the jawpieces attached to the nose-band body will extend outwardly and the inner ends d will assumeanangleto the outerendsandbeinclined away from the middlejoint of the bit,the entire nose-baud being practically C-shaped in section. When, however, the said bit-sections are drawn rearwardly, the inner ends are constructed and arranged toassume a position at right angles thereto to bring said projections squarely into contact with the jaw. In cases where the bridle is put 011 a gentle horse it is not necessary to remove the noseband, as the ends of the same may be tied or otherwise fastened to the rein-rings, whereupon the projections f, carried by the said nose-band, will be inoperative.

Manifestly, if the inner ends of the jawpieces were to be inclined outwardly from the plane embracing the middle point of the bit instead of outwardly toward the said joint the natural tendency of the said end pieces would be to slide rearwardly over the bit, and thus cause the projections to lie against the horses jaw. In addition to this tendency in the practical operation of devices of this character heretofore constructed it has been found that as the projections were located nearer the jaw than were the ends of the nose-band, and thus necessarily rested close to or so near the cheeks of the horse the slightest pull on the reins, as in ordinary driving, caused the said projections to bore into the cheeks. Consequently it has been found impracticable to use devices of this character with high-spirited or hard-bitted horses on account of the action of the outwardly-fiaring band being to constantly fret and worry the animal. My invention is designed to overcome this objectiondeveloped, as stated, in the practical use of these nosebands, and I accordingly obviate this difficulty by inclining the inner ends of the jawpieces inwardly, and thereby locating the projections normally at quite a distance from the horses jaw and in front of the rein-rings, and these projections therefore are located farther from the jaw than are the ends of the nose-band. Consequently the inner ends of my inwardly-flaring nose-band, carrying the said projections, are adapted when said bitsections are drawn rearwardly to be moved a considerable distance inwardly before contacting the jaw and upon the bit-sections being drawn farther rearwardly to' assume a position at right angles thereto to bring said. projections squarely in contact with the jaw, as stated. Thus, in ordinary driving, horses which are more or less hard-bitted are not fretted or worried 'by the action of my noseband, the play being sufficient for the projections to be moved inwardly and outwardly without contacting the cheeks except when correction is necessary, in which case the bitwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but that such changes and equivalents maybe substituted therefor, and that What I claim as my invention -is- 1. The combination, with a jointed bit, of jaw-pieces slidable upon the said bit-sections, and inclined at the inner ends inwardly .or toward the middle or joint of the bit, and standing away from the sides of a horses jaw, and provided with projections normally lying forward of the bit-rings; the said inner ends being adapted, when said bit-sections are drawn rearwardly, to be moved a considerable distance before contacting the jaw, and on the bit-sections being drawn farther rearwardly to assume a position at right angles thereto, to bring said projections squarely in contact with the jaw; and a resilient noseband connecting the outer ends of the jawpieces,whereby the said jaw-pieces are established and maintained in the said positions.

2. The combination, with a jointed bit, of jaw-pieces slidable upon the said bit-section s, and inclined at the inner ends inwardly or toward the middle or joint of the bit, and standing away from the sides of a horses jaw, and provided with a link d and with projectionsfnormallylying forward of the bit-rings; the said inner ends being adapted, when said bit sections are drawn rearwardly, to be moved a considerable distance before conare established and tacting the jaw, and on the bit-sections being drawn farther rearwardly to assume a position at right angles thereto, to bring said projections squarely in contact with the jaw;

and a resilient nose-band connecting the outer ends of the jaw-pieces, whereby the said jaw-pieces are established and maintained in the said positions.

3. The combination, with a jointed bit, of a nose-band consisting. of a resilient band,

. jaw or end pieces, and also a part constructed and arranged to be exteriorly rigidly attached to the band and jaw-pieces adjacent to the outer ends of the said jaw-pieces, and constructed of resilient, flexible or yielding material; the said jaw-pieces being slidable upon the said bit-sections, and inclined at the inner ends and standing away from the sides of a horses jaw, and provided with projections normally lying forward of the bit-rings, the inner ends'being adapted, whensaid bitsections are drawn rearwardly, to be moved a considerable distance before contacting the jaw, and on the bitsections being drawn farther rearwardly, to assume a position at right angles thereto, to bring said projections squarely in contact with the jaw; and the said resilient band connecting the outer ends of the jaw-pieces,wherehy the said jaw-pieces maintained in the said positions.

In testimony of the foregoing specification I do hereby sign the same in the city of New York, county and State of New York, this 20th day of May, A. D. 1902.

JONATHAN o'. FOWLER, JR.

Witnesses: I

ELBERT. B. BOLTON, ROB. SOHWARZ. 

